Obituary: Harold Lloyd Bland

Harold Lloyd Bland, a longtime resident of Rangely, Colo., passed away March 19, 2014, at his home in Cripple Creek, Colo.
Harold was born on Jan. 22, 1934, in Walsh, Colo. In the later 1940s, his family moved to Rangely, where he was graduated from high school in 1951.
Harold was drafted into the Army in 1953, spending the next two years in Korea. In 1957, Harold began working in the oilfield in Red Wash, Utah. On a weeks’ vacation in Newhall, Calif., with his brother Larry, Harold found the love of his life, Barbara Beck. They were married in Las Vegas, Nev., on June 19, 1959, With 55 cents in their pocket, they made their way back to Rangely to settle down, start and raise their family.
Harold continued working in the oilfield, when, in 1977, he and Barbara formed H&H Well Service, continuing in the Red Wash, Utah, area until 1988, when they sold the company and their home to semi-retire in Fairplay, Colo.
There, they managed the Western Inn Motel until 1988, when Harold and Barbara fully retired and moved to Cripple Creek, where they both enjoyed playing blackjack and the slots. Harold always took the time to help and care for neighbors and shared his love of building projects.
Harold was preceded in death by: his parents, Ralph and Beryl Bland of Vernal, Utah; a brother, Ralph Alden of Vernal, Utah; and a sister, Linda of Tuscon, Ariz.
He is survived by: his wife of 54 years, Barbara of Cripple Creek; a sister, Helen of Springfield, Colo.; a brother, Larry (Rosie) of Casper, Wyo.; three sons, Lloyd (Melanie) of Rangely; Gary (Mina) of Parachute, Colo., and Richard (Brinda) of Meeker; a daughter, Nancy (Bill) Loop of Cripple Creek, 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.